SDMC fails to attract any bidder for installing mobile towers

South Delhi Municipal Corporation's efforts to check installation of unauthorised mobile phone towers seems to be proving futile, as the civic body has failed to attract any bidders from private companies for carrying out the exercise lawfully.
The SDMC had issued tenders a few months ago for installation of mobile towers on 102 buildings owned by it in its area.
But, efforts to invite tenders for installing towers have drawn a blank with no response from private bidders, civic officials said.
The issue of unauthorised mobile phone towers was raised in a meeting of the SDMC's standing committee today.
Installing of unauthorised towers in civic body's West Zone and "laxity" of officials concerned to check it were raised by a BJP councillor in the meeting.

As per official figures, there are over 3,600 mobile phone towers under SDMC area, out of which 70 per cent are illegally installed. The Central Zone of the civic body has the maximum number of such towers.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Standing Committee Radhe Shyam Sharma today directed the department concerned to act strictly against complaints in connection with unauthorised towers.
Municipal officials said in the meeting that tenders were floated for authorised installation of mobile phone towers on corporation's buildings but there were "no takers" due to the "high one-time fee of Rs 5 lakh".
Example of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) which has allowed installing of mobile towers by private bidders on a rental basis was cited in the meeting, and Sharma said that if no bidders were available then the "provisions could be changed" for the sake of revenue generation.

He also directed officials to provide information about rental method so that requisite changes could be brought about in the related policies of the civic body.